Chapter 139
He miscalculated!
Shen Shuyu’s brain CPU nearly fried from this single question. Indeed, as someone who shouldn’t have any special perspective, how could he have predicted that Zhong would return early?
He met Shen Xili’s eyes, feeling as if the other had already seen through him. Fortunately, a piece of information suddenly popped into his mind at this moment.
He looked at Shen Xili without changing his expression and didn’t pull his wrist back. Instead, he countered, “You have the nerve to ask me? Didn’t you say you did an investigation? The snow was so heavy yesterday; all factory workers had to stop work in the latter half of the night. Isn’t it normal for Zhong to come back at that time?”
This piece of information was forcefully inserted into his brain by the System just now. Because of the heavy snow yesterday, all work in the latter half of the night was suspended, except for snow removal workers.
Shen Xili released Shen Shuyu’s wrist this time. “So that’s how it is.”
Shen Shuyu scoffed coldly. “Your investigative ability, Little Li… I’m really worried for you.”
Little Li stated, “Let’s go buy things.”
Shen Shuyu made a “Tch” sound, and the two walked toward the convenience store nearby.
Not long after they came out of the convenience store, a figure followed slowly not far behind them.
Arriving at the slums, Shen Shuyu pulled his coat tighter. The two split up again as usual. Shen Shuyu walked openly toward the first floor, while Shen Xili took the path they used to leave yesterday.
When Shen Shuyu walked toward the first floor before, he had thought there were people around and walked cautiously. Today, knowing only Lin Qi and Zhong were there, he felt much more at ease.
He called out to the System twice, but the System had suddenly gone silent. He had a faint bad feeling, but having already arrived here, he couldn’t care about that much. He couldn’t exactly tell Shen Xili, “My Gold Finger isn’t online today, let’s come back another day,” could he?
Shen Shuyu steadied himself and walked over. Without the System’s help, he was even more careful this time. He pressed his ear against Zhong’s door to listen for a while. After confirming there was no sound, he went over and opened the window next to it.
Shen Xili’s route was slightly longer. Shen Shuyu waited for a while before Shen Xili arrived.
He pointed inside the room and shook his head, indicating no one was there.
Shen Xili nodded. He left the window half-open to facilitate their departure later, then walked to the door and easily picked the lock using the same method as yesterday.
Inside was pitch black. It seemed Zhong had been gone for a while. Xili turned on his flashlight without turning on the room lights and walked in. Shen Shuyu closed the door softly.
Just as they discussed before coming, Shuyu searched the outside living area, while Shen Xili searched the bedroom inside.
Two people were faster than one. Shen Shuyu searched more carefully today, even running his hands over the gaps between the bricks on the wall to prevent anything from being hidden inside. Unfortunately, there was nothing.
Where could he have put it?
Shen Shuyu felt a headache coming on. As he walked toward the inner room, Shen Xili happened to come out. He clutched his heart and shook his head; he hadn’t found anything either.
It seemed he had it on him.
That was troublesome. If he carried the Mother Bug with him at all times, they had no way to get close enough to take it.
Shen Xili pointed to the door, signaling to leave first.
Shen Shuyu nodded. It seemed that was their only option.
Just as they took a step toward the door, they heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. Both froze in their tracks and retreated back into the bedroom.
The whole room was bare; there was simply no place to hide except… under the bed.
The two exchanged a glance. Without needing words, both quickly scrambled under the bed.
The person who returned was indeed Zhong.
Zhong closed the door and couldn’t help cursing, “Damn it. If I didn’t have a mission, who would work in that wretched place of yours?”
No worker is without grievances. Zhong rambled and cursed in the room for at least ten minutes.
Shen Shuyu and Shen Xili were pressed tightly together under the bed. Shen Shuyu lifted his chin slightly: Why did he come back suddenly?
Shen Xili pursed his lips: Don’t know.
Shen Shuyu recalled what he had said before they came—his jinxed mouth had actually gotten it right. Zhong really did come back halfway. No wonder his heart felt a bit flustered when he entered earlier; it seemed there were signs all along.
The footsteps got closer and closer to the bedroom. The two looked at each other just as the bedroom light was turned on. Everything around them became bright, and even the scene under the bed became much clearer.
Only now did Shen Shuyu realize they seemed to be pressed too closely together.
This bed wasn’t big. Although two people could lie flat under it, their shoulders were pressed tight against each other. In the darkness just now, it didn’t feel improper, but now that he could see clearly—face to face, breaths seemingly entangled—it felt a bit too ambiguous.
Shen Xili’s gaze unconsciously fell on Shen Shuyu’s full lips. Even in winter, the Little Young Master’s lips were bright red.
Just then, Shen Shuyu moved his face closer. He opened his mouth in confusion and silently asked: What are you thinking about?
Shen Xili’s Adam’s apple rolled. He shook his head and gestured with small movements: I’ll go out and distract him in a bit. You leave quickly.
Shen Shuyu mouthed: If we leave, we leave together.
Shen Xili shook his head: I’ll do it. He won’t be surprised. He hasn’t seen you. Only if you leave can you do other things later.
That did make sense.
Shen Shuyu nodded: I’ll wait for you outside.
Shen Xili made an ‘OK’ gesture. Just as he aimed for the right moment to peek out, knocking sounds came from the front door: “Good neighbor, are you in?”
“Neighbor! Are you there? I know you’re back. Come open the door.”
That was… Lin Qi’s voice?
Shen Xili lay back down silently. Shen Shuyu made a ‘shh’ gesture, trying hard to listen to the commotion outside.
Zhong was just opening the wardrobe to find a set of clothes for a hot shower. The only thing about this place that satisfied him was having hot water available anytime for a bath.
He obviously recognized the voice outside too and cursed angrily. He didn’t intend to open the door, but the person outside kept knocking incessantly, as if he wouldn’t stop until the door was opened.
Zhong cursed as he walked to the door. Pulling it open, he saw his flirtatious gigolo neighbor as expected. His face wasn’t pleasant. “What do you want?”
Lin Qi said, “I’m really sorry. My bathtub won’t drain. Could I trouble you to fix it for me?”
He showed off his fingernails. “My baby likes this nail style recently; I don’t want to get them dirty yet.”
Zhong’s face turned livid. Just as he was about to slam the door shut, he saw Lin Qi lazily take out two bills from his pocket. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you work for free. And it’ll delay you for three or four minutes at most.”
Zhong looked at the two bills, his face flushing red then white. In the end, he snatched the bills and said gloomily, “Let me put on some clothes.”
Lin Qi leaned against the doorframe. “You won’t take the money and not work, right? My place has the heating on; it’s much warmer than your den. Just come over directly.”
Zhong swallowed his pride and stuffed the bills into his pocket. “Let’s go.”
Lin Qi made a gesture of invitation and raised his voice, “Don’t worry, just three or four minutes. Dear neighbor, look a bit happier.”
Once there was no movement at the door, Shen Shuyu said, “Go. Only three minutes.”
Three minutes was enough.
The two quickly crawled out from under the bed. The dust under the bed was heavy, but they couldn’t care about that now. They left Zhong’s home with the fastest and lightest speed possible.
Only after jumping out the window did the two heave a heavy sigh of relief.
Shen Xili said, “Let’s go. Leave here first, then talk.”
Shen Shuyu nodded. “Mn.”
The two rushed outward. After only a few steps, they saw a figure standing not far away.
Shen Xili blocked Shen Shuyu behind him and asked in a low voice, “Who is it?”
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